I participated in 6th grade and am now initiating an Odyssey of the Mind membership in my school. It is wonderful for children because parents are not allowed to take over the problem-solving. The children lose points if the parents do. So parents are encouraged to help their children to use tools, if they are asked, and to support their children's ideas.
The other cool thing is that there are verbal and non-verbal problems. A child who is more mechanically inclined can do the car problem or the structure also, so it isn't all skits.:)
